Ya She

Chapter 56 Celestial Algae

The thrifty doctor has been incredibly lucky lately! His phone screen cracked, but to save money, he refused to replace it!
The doctor was biting his pen as he did the math, and seeing the huge sum of a year's rent made him feel heartbroken. But strangely, Tang Yuan produced his property certificate! When exactly did he buy this house?
His luck was off the charts; by some strange twist of fate, he bought a lottery ticket that matched the exact numbers for the jackpot...

I wonder if all of this has anything to do with the green bead on the lucky cat's paw on his bedside table...

※294 AD※

Shi Xi clenched his sleeves, wiped the fine sweat from his palms caused by nervousness, and followed his father step by step into the Wang family mansion.

Today, General Wang Kai is holding a grand banquet for his guests. Shi Xi doesn't know what his father was thinking, but he actually brought him, who is only six years old.

Shi Xi was his father's only son, born when he was over forty. He was naturally pampered from a young age, and when he was even younger, he had never even left his own courtyard. Perhaps realizing that it was problematic to raise a boy like a girl, treating him with such delicacy, Shi Chong had been taking Shi Xi with him wherever he went recently, including today's banquet at the Wang family's residence.

Although Shi Xi was young, he managed to perform the proper etiquette when meeting other adults, albeit haltingly, and acted like a little adult, which made him even more endearing. Since entering the Prince's mansion, he had encountered many guests, both big and small, and naturally earned quite a few gifts in return.

The banquet at the Prince's mansion was held on the largest pavilion, large enough to accommodate over a hundred people, decorated with rocks and plants. It was springtime, and flowers of every color were in full bloom, vying for attention. Amidst the blossoms, dozens of graceful dancers, dressed in light, vibrant clothing, danced to the soft, alluring music drifting from afar. Although their figures were partially obscured by the branches and flowers, the fluttering petals created an unparalleled and enchanting scene.

Surrounding the pavilion was a man-made, emerald-green pool. After the host announced that guests could take their seats, they crossed the pool one by one via a white jade bridge to reach the central pavilion.

Small boats glide gently across the rippling pond, each carrying several musicians who play flutes, sheng, and zhu, and pluck the strings of qin, se, and pipa. The music, sometimes soothing, sometimes urgent, surrounds the pavilion and resonates above the pond. Because each boat is far enough from the central pavilion, the music doesn't disturb the guests' conversations, creating an ethereal and otherworldly atmosphere. Furthermore, since all the boats drift on the water, their distance from the pavilion varying, the harmony of the various instruments changes accordingly, showcasing remarkable artistry.

Within the pavilions, a winding stream meanders through. Perhaps utilizing the terrain and mechanisms, the water on one side meanders gently past the pavilions, flowing into a pool on the other side. Floating on this stream are gilded lacquer platters laden with delicacies and carved jade cups overflowing with fine wines. Guests attending the banquet sit directly on the banks of the stream, able to watch the dancers performing around them, and easily retrieve the dishes from the water to savor the food and wine – a truly delightful experience.

Shi Xi knew he had seen plenty of nice things at home, but this was the first time he had ever seen such a lavish and extravagant scene. He immediately understood why his father had brought him out to broaden his horizons.

Shi Xi turned his little head, looking around as if he couldn't take it all in. Even after his father pulled him to sit down for a long time, he still kept looking around, especially interested in the vessels floating on the winding stream in front of him.

"This is the 'Floating Wine Cups on a Winding Stream' ceremony," Shi Chong explained with a soft laugh, seeing his son's enjoyment. He didn't care whether Shi Xi could read or not, and simply took his little hand, writing the four characters on his palm with his fingers. Shi Xi had no idea what he was writing, treating it like a tickle, but still repeated the four characters in a muffled voice after his father. His little eyes followed the floating wine vessels until he saw several servants busily retrieving untouched vessels from the pavilion to prevent them from drifting into the pond before he was satisfied.

He looked down at his chubby little hands, trying to grab some food himself, but his servant was faster. If he lingered on a certain lacquer tray for a few more seconds, the servant would nimbly reach out and scoop it out.

The delicacies served on these vessels are all exquisitely prepared. Meat dishes include various methods of cooking birds and animals, such as sauce, soup, stew, steaming, roasting, grilling, frying, deep-frying, honey-dressing, pickling, and mixing. Fish is cooked directly on the boat with fresh fish caught from the pond, ensuring freshness and deliciousness. Interspersed among these are verdant vegetables and various fruits, as well as delicate pastries and cakes. The variety is countless, which explains why the banquet is held in the form of a winding stream with floating wine cups.

Once he received his father's permission to eat, Shi Xi's eyes immediately lit up. Each serving was just a small amount, but with so many different kinds, his little belly soon bulged, and he could only stare longingly at the dishes that floated past him.

But wouldn't it be even more painful to look at something but not be able to eat it? Shi Xi rubbed his protruding belly, sipping peach juice while glancing to both sides. Shi Chong and the guests next to him finished exchanging polite toasts, and when he turned around, he saw Shi Xi's small face. Regardless of whether Shi Xi understood or not, he quietly introduced the people sitting on both sides of the winding stream to him.

Actually, he had already met many of the people when he came in, but there was no harm in getting to know them again. Shi Xi carefully matched the gifts he received with the names of the guests introduced by his father in his sleeve.

“The seats in the middle and upper reaches are the main seats.” Shi Chong didn’t expect his son to remember everyone, but he should at least have an impression of the important people. He repeated it to himself several times before sighing, “Xi’er, even this winding stream party has many rules.”

Under his father's guidance, Shi Xi realized that the guests sitting upstream dared not choose their dishes at will, and the guests downstream were also enjoying dishes that had been picked by others. The father and son were sitting in the middle and lower reaches of the river.

"Then Father, why don't we sit there?" Shi Xi blinked and asked innocently.

"The seats were decided long ago." Shi Chong took a sip of the lychee green wine, his eyes slightly narrowed in enjoyment. This was a fine wine brewed according to an ancient recipe dating back to the Han Dynasty, using lychee as the main ingredient and blended with grains. The longer it aged, the deeper the color of the wine. The lychee green wine in Shi Chong's hand was almost emerald green, indicating that it had been aged for quite some time, enough to reveal the profound wealth of the Wang family.

"So, what determines these seats?" Shi Xi couldn't help but lean over and smell the wine glass in her father's hand, then wrinkled her little nose because of the spicy smell.

"It all boils down to fame and fortune." Shi Chong savored the rich aroma of the wine between his lips and teeth, and continued with a smile, "Fame refers to reputation and renown, while fortune refers to personal gain and benefits."

Shi Xi basically didn't understand what he was hearing, and blinked her big, clear eyes in a daze.

"Actually, it's about becoming rich, talented, or well-known to everyone in order to get a seat in the best seats." Shi Chong looked at the bustling and lively middle and upper positions, a hint of longing flashing in his eyes, which he quickly concealed.

"Oh, that sounds like a lot of trouble... I'm fine sitting here." Shi Xi smacked his lips, thinking that even if the dishes had been chosen by others, there were still plenty of varieties, enough for him to eat!
Shi Chong sighed inwardly as he looked at his son's lack of ambition.

Fine, if my son is not up to par, then I'll let him try to be more ambitious.

Shi Xi shifted his gaze from the winding stream to both sides. To be precise, no one else came here just to eat in silence. Some were debating loudly, others were reciting poetry with their cups raised, and still others were clearly drunk, getting up without any restraint to go into the woods to find dancing girls to have fun with.

He was staring intently in the direction of the woods when a hand blocked his view and pressed a finger against his cheek, forcing him to turn his head back.

“Father…” Shi Xi protested sullenly.

"Xi'er, do not look at what is improper."

Shi Xi wanted to retort a few more words, but was so shocked by what happened next that she had no time to feel sentimental.

As if someone said something, a group of servants rushed out, and a small boat floating on the pond turned around and headed towards the pavilion. Then, the servants brought over the five musicians on board and made them kneel down in turn by the winding stream.

What's going on? Shi Xi's eyes lit up, and he craned his neck to see what was happening. Unfortunately, he was too short to see anything even when he stood up, so he could only listen to the gossip around him.

"It is said that Chu Zhong loved music, and indeed his reputation was well-deserved, as he could even hear the mistakes in the flute notes."

"I heard that a musician misplayed the Gong note as the Shang note in a certain place."

"Tsk, so what if you made a mistake? Why did you have to say it out loud? Wouldn't that just make General Longxiang look bad?"

"After marrying Princess Xiangcheng, Wang Chuzhong climbed the social ladder and became arrogant and disdainful of everyone."

"No, no, General Longxiang is Wang Chuzhong's maternal uncle. They're family, so there's no distinction between them!"

"Hmph, just you wait and see, it's not that simple."

"..."

When Shi Chong introduced them earlier, he emphasized General Longxiang and Wang Chuzhong, so Shi Xi easily found his target. General Longxiang was none other than Wang Kai, the host of the banquet. He sat in the main seat, a bit older than his father, his face slightly flushed, his eyes narrowed to slits, but the hidden sharpness within them was still visible. Shi Xi touched the small white jade horse in his sleeve, matching the gift with the person.

The man who became the imperial son-in-law, Wang Chuzhong, whose real name was Wang Dun and courtesy name was Chuzhong, was the young man sitting next to General Wang Kai. He was only in his early twenties, with clear features and a handsome appearance. He wore a long white robe, a tall hat, and a wide belt, exuding an air of elegance and charm. He sat there simply cross-legged, but his back was ramrod straight, making him stand out from the crowd.

Shi Xi rummaged through his sleeves and found no gift from the man, so he pouted unhappily.

So stingy!
Moreover, this person is clearly suspicious. The banquet is bustling with noise, and the small boat is so far from the pavilion. What kind of ears would one need to hear someone play a wrong note? At this moment, the host of the banquet, Wang Kai, raised his voice and said, "Chuzhong, you said the flute note was wrong, but there are five musicians on that boat. Are we going to punish them all? What should we do?"

As he spoke, the bystanders on the other side of the winding stream wisely dispersed, revealing the five musicians kneeling on the ground. Perhaps to allow General Longxiang's voice to travel far and wide, the music abruptly stopped on the small boat on the pond, and even the dancers in the woods ceased their dance and quietly knelt on the ground.

Almost instantly, the once lively and noisy banquet fell completely silent. This stark contrast was almost suffocating.

Shi Xi subconsciously looked across the winding stream. The five musicians were all young, dressed in distinctive narrow-sleeved short jackets. There were both men and women, and they were all holding flutes. It seemed that he hadn't been able to see clearly from a distance earlier; it was likely that the musicians on each boat were holding the same instrument.

Listening to the whispers of the guests around him, Shi Xi realized that everyone assumed this would be the end of it; after all, there's a lot of people involved. After all, it was just a single wrong note, and it might not even be true—why take it so seriously? Besides, even if a wrong note was indeed played, questioning the five musicians would lead to two possibilities: either they would all unanimously point to who played the wrong note, or they would try to pin the blame on each other. Either way, it would make the situation very unpleasant.

Shi Xi was expecting a good show, but to his surprise, Wang Dun smiled faintly and pointed to the opposite bank of the winding stream, saying slowly, "It's the one in the middle."

All eyes immediately focused on the musician in the center, a girl of about ten years old. She was trembling with her head down, offering no explanation, seemingly acquiescing to the situation.

Shi Xi was dumbfounded. Could it be that Wang Dun, Wang Chuzhong, really possessed a pair of super hearing?
What happened next surprised everyone present.

After the young musician was pointed out, she was immediately killed by a servant with a knife, and the gushing blood instantly stained the bluestone slab beneath her. The guests all paled, but Wang Dun, the instigator of all this, remained unfazed, calmly drinking his wine.

Shi Xi was so shocked he almost screamed, but luckily Shi Chong, who was standing nearby, covered his mouth in time.

The young musician's body was dragged away, and the blood was quickly washed away. The remaining four musicians were also taken away. The atmosphere remained eerie for only a few minutes before the music resumed, the dancers began to dance again, and although the guests' expressions were somewhat unnatural, they resumed their toasts and conversation.

Although Shi Xi was young, he had witnessed the life and death of pets and knew how terrifying death could be. It was precisely because he knew this that he was even more shocked and remained in shock for a long time.

In a daze, Shi Xi heard someone lower their voice and ask his father beside him, "Did that musician really play the wrong note? But if he was wronged, why didn't he speak up to defend himself?"

“People are born into different classes. As a servant, how can I resist power? I can only do whatever the nobles say.” Shi Chong sighed, picked up his wine cup, and said meaningfully, “Gentlemen, cherish your status.”

Shi Xi raised his head and stared intently at his father, knowing that he must have something to say to him.

Sure enough, Shi Chong reached out and stroked his head, gently instructing him, "Xi'er, perhaps all of this is just a play, don't take it too seriously."

"play?"

"Do you remember what I just said? Today, all the guests I have invited are scholars and literati of my great Jin Dynasty. With such a performance, I'm afraid that by tomorrow, the entire city of Luoyang will know the names of Wang Dun and Wang Chuzhong."

"...Is this...for the sake of a name?"

Shi Xi asked, stunned.

"Of course."

Shi Chong was very satisfied with bringing his son out to broaden his horizons today. Although the medicine he had given was a bit too strong, it seemed to be working well.

Shi Xi was completely dazed, his little head filled with unresolved thoughts. Even the most exquisite dishes and the most beautiful scenery seemed shrouded in a thick layer of blood to him. Perhaps sensing his low spirits, Shi Chong led him to take his leave halfway through the banquet, boarding the Shi family's oxcart, but it stopped after a short, bumpy ride.

"Master, someone is requesting an audience, offering treasures in hopes of receiving your protection," the Shi family's coachman reported in a low voice.

Shi Chong lifted the curtain of the carriage, and a servant below promptly handed him an open brocade box. Inside the box lay a green bead, lying quietly.

Shi Xi glanced at the carriage and looked out, where he saw a young man kneeling beside the wheels of the carriage. He was probably one of the four musicians who had been implicated and expelled from the palace. He was dressed in the palace musician's attire, holding a flute in his hand, and his clothes were stained with blood, which had been splashed on him earlier.

"The musicians in the Prince's mansion have all undergone years of careful training. Xi'er, I remember you like the sound of the flute, would you like to take her home?" the middle-aged man in purple robes asked casually. He didn't bother to ask the musicians' intentions, because given his status, even if he disliked someone, he could simply take the beads and kill them without a second thought, just like the young female musician who had just died. They were simply not the same kind of people as him.

Shi Xi didn't know when he had developed a liking for listening to flute music, and he didn't know how to answer for a moment. He could only stare at the young musician kneeling there.

The latter, however, seemed to be telepathically connected and slowly raised its head...

※2※

The phone on the bedside table was ringing the deafening "Turkish March." The doctor suddenly opened his eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling for a long time before finally snapping out of the bizarre dream.

But unlike his usual dreams, which quickly faded and became blurred, everything in the dream became clearer as he recalled it.

"Floating Wine Cups on a Winding Stream"... to put it bluntly, it's just conveyor belt sushi! But its high-class style is something that conveyor belt sushi can't compare to!

However, the moment the last young musician raised his head, he woke up and did not see the other person's face.

Why... do you care so much...?

From the perspective in his dream, although he could only see the curve of the person's jaw, it felt strangely familiar, sending shivers down his spine.

The doctor lay there expressionless for another half minute to the stirring strains of the "Turkish March," until Tang Yuan from the next room couldn't resist running over and turning off his phone alarm.

"Get up! Didn't you say you had surgery this morning? Go to work and earn money to support me!" Little Tang Yuan lectured righteously, but then turned around and was speechless. "Where did you find this green bead? I've never seen it before. Why did you keep it even though it was broken?"

The lamp base on the bedside table was shaped like a lucky cat, and on the cat's outstretched paw lay a broken bead, which shimmered with a deep, ethereal green light in the clear sunlight.

"I don't know either..." The doctor frowned. He found the bead in his pocket after returning from Mingde University. He didn't know why he hadn't thrown it away; he had just casually placed it by his bedside. Now that he thought about it, the bead he saw in the brocade box in his dream was almost identical in color and size to this one.

Are dreams really just projections of reality?
But why did he dream that he was the child named Shi Xi? And why did he dream of his father...?

The doctor pursed his lips. He thought that after he got over his teenage years, he would no longer dream about his imaginary parents. But deep down, did he still secretly hope for their existence?

I felt inexplicably depressed, and even after working a full day at the hospital, surrounded by trivial matters, my mood didn't improve at all.

He didn't have time to return to the office until almost the end of the workday. When Chun Ge saw him like this, he teased, "Why are you looking so gloomy? Did Ye Zi reject you? I heard the gossip about you two going out on a date in the middle of the night!"

"Who spread this gossip?" The doctor was taken aback, then unusually serious, declared, "Please don't spread it anymore, it's not good for the girl."

Chun Ge raised an eyebrow in surprise, walked around the doctor, patted him on the shoulder, and asked, "So what is it? You've been keeping such a long face all this time, that's not like you!"

The doctor, with a pained expression, pulled his phone out of his white coat pocket and said sadly, "My brand new phone screen is broken..." The problem was that he didn't know how the screen broke; he had no recollection of it at all.

"...Please accept my condolences." Chun Ge wiped his face and gave him a helpless punch. "If the screen is broken, just get it replaced!"

"Replacing the original screen of an iPhone 6 costs nearly two thousand yuan! Although it's cheaper on Taobao, I don't dare to just replace it casually!" the doctor said regretfully. "Besides, next year's rent is due soon, so I have to be careful. Anyway, the phone still works, so I'll just make do with it for now." The doctor scratched his head, not saying aloud that there was another person in the family to support. Although raising little Tang Yuan wasn't expensive, it was still necessary to save some money in case of emergency.

When it comes to financial matters, even the closest friends can't really say anything. Chun Ge could only invite, "Want to have dinner together tonight? But I can't leave work until I finish my rounds. Bring your little one, I'll treat you to hot pot!"

"Why would you eat hot pot on such a hot day..." the doctor complained, but still arranged a time and place, called little Tang Yuan and asked him to come to the hospital, and the two of them waited together for the kind-hearted Uncle Long Legs to treat them after get off work.

In fact, it wasn't just Chun Ge who noticed the doctor's bad mood; Tang Yuan, who spent every day with him, also noticed it. After returning home from hotpot, Tang Yuan discovered that the doctor was unusually writing and drawing at his desk and using a calculator. Extremely curious, Tang Yuan glanced at him while delivering water and immediately realized he was keeping accounts—that seemed to be the reason.

"What's this expense for?" Tang Yuan pointed to the largest sum, feeling utterly dejected. His unreliable, gluttonous master hadn't given him any living expenses before kicking him out. He started seriously considering whether to try selling some antiques at his senior brother's shop, but his second senior brother seemed to be nowhere to be found!
"It's the rent. It's time to pay next year's rent. The contract we signed stipulated that rent should be paid annually," the doctor mumbled, biting his pen. Although the apartment was very cheap when he rented it, the rent had been increasing every year, and paying a year's rent all at once was quite a large sum of money.

The doctor used his cracked phone as a calculator, doing calculations for a long time before realizing that little Tang Yuan hadn't left at all, but was instead looking down with a serious expression. The doctor, who wasn't usually very perceptive, instantly understood and quickly explained, "Don't be like that, it's not your fault! Even if I hadn't taken you in, I still had to pay rent! Actually, raising you wouldn't have cost that much!"

Tang Yuan looked up, carefully studying the doctor's expression, while the latter smiled honestly, completely unaware of how naive he appeared to others. After a long pause, Tang Yuan finally sighed in a mature tone, patted the doctor's shoulder, and said with exasperation, "Uncle, you haven't even reached menopause yet, how come you have dementia? Have you forgotten things you've done?"

The doctor's eyes widened, and he was about to ask what was going on when he saw little Tang Yuan running to the bookshelf in his slippers, pulling open a drawer, pulling out a file folder, and then running back to hand it to him.

Curious, the doctor looked down and his eyes widened even more.

This is a property ownership certificate! It's for the house he lives in now! And it even has his own signature!

When did he buy the house?! How come even he doesn't remember?!
The doctor was completely bewildered. He examined the property certificate in his hand repeatedly, scrutinizing the attached sales contract, name change copies, tax invoices, and land certificate. He couldn't believe it wasn't a forgery. But where would he get the money to buy a house? He'd only been working for a few years, and the city's housing prices were prohibitively high. Even if the house were cheaper, he absolutely couldn't afford it…

※295 AD※

The banquet hosted by General Wang Kai had a profound impact on Shi Xi. After returning home that time, he inexplicably fell seriously ill. Shi Chong felt extremely guilty and never mentioned taking him out again, but often told him about his experiences during the day after returning home.

Wang Kai's household frequently hosted banquets, but one event was even more shocking than the last. Wang Kai had devised a new game: he ordered dancers to urge guests to drink. If a guest refused, the dancer was deemed negligent. His palace had no place for negligent dancers, and they would be executed. Guests, even if not for the sake of the beautiful women, were expected to drink out of respect for General Longxiang. However, when it was Wang Dun's turn, he refused to drink. The dancers who had been urging him to drink turned pale with fear, tears streaming down their faces. Several dancers were even killed on the spot, but Wang Dun remained unmoved.

Wang Dun finally used several lives to make his name known throughout Luoyang.

This was Shi Chong's dismissive assessment when he relayed it to Shi Xi upon his return.

Shi Xi was too young to understand the envy hidden in her father's words.

The musician who had been expelled from the Prince's mansion settled down at the Shi family's residence. His flute playing was melodious and clear. Shi Xi didn't particularly like flute music, but after listening to it every day, it became a habit.

His grandfather was Shi Bao, a founding hero of the Jin Dynasty. When his grandfather passed away, he distributed his wealth to his descendants, but his father, Shi Chong, did not receive a single penny.

Shi Xi already thought his family was very wealthy, but after visiting the mansion of General Wang Kai, he realized the difference between heaven and earth.

However, his father soon began to be promoted.

He was appointed as the General of the Southern Army and Governor of Jingzhou, concurrently serving as the Commandant of the Southern Barbarians, and was promoted to the rank of General of Eagle Soaring.

Shi Xi didn't understand how much administrative work such a long list of official titles entailed, but his father was returning home later and later. Or even when he did return home, he would go to the other concubines' quarters and no longer come to his courtyard. He could hardly see his father once or twice a month.

Correspondingly, the Shi family began to become wealthy. Their mansion was expanded and renovated, and they built villas in other places. The mansion was filled with priceless decorations and furnishings given by others, and the delicacies on the dining table also increased.

However, without his father's company, Shi Xi felt that these delicacies were not as delicious as the four dishes and one soup he used to enjoy.

"Young Master, why are you unhappy?" The melodious flute music stopped, and a pleasant male voice came from under the corridor.

Shi Xi put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a silk handkerchief, and looked at the empty hall. He sighed softly, like a little adult. Because the flute music had stopped and the hall had become quiet, the intermittent sounds of sheng and xiao (traditional Chinese wind instruments) coming from other courtyards could be heard, making the place seem even more desolate and solemn. Shi Xi turned his head towards the direction from which the sound of the sheng and xiao came, his little face gloomy. He knew that courtyard belonged to a dancer named Lü Zhu, who was skilled in performing a dance called "The Dance of the Wise Ruler," her skill unparalleled in Luoyang, and who was extremely favored by his father.

"Musician, did you recommend Green Pearl?" Shi Xi asked, his face tense, enunciating each word carefully. Others might not notice, but he clearly remembered the Green Pearl that had been presented to him; he had never actually received it. And soon after, a dancer named Green Pearl inexplicably appeared in the Shi family.

“Reporting to the young master, this is a deal between me and the master.” The musician’s voice remained calm and unhurried, without the slightest hint of annoyance at being exposed. “He wanted unparalleled wealth, so I offered him Green Pearl.”

"...Then what did you change it to?" Shi Xi didn't believe it at all; this musician was probably just fooling him like a child. Although he was indeed a child, he wasn't that naive. If this musician had such great abilities, why would he be a musician whose life and death were controlled by others?

Of course, it's in exchange for companionship in this life.

The musician remained silent, presumably knowing that no matter what he said, the young master of the Shi family wouldn't take it seriously.

Shi Xi wasn't angry. He was easygoing by nature and took the remark as a casual joke. He gazed wistfully at the star-studded night sky and asked, puzzled, "Musician, are fame and fortune really that captivating to people?" He couldn't understand it. However, he wasn't seeking an answer from the other person. He then gave a self-deprecating laugh and said, "Perhaps I'll understand when I grow up."

His reply was a sigh from the corridor, filled with extremely complex emotions.

I dreamt of that dynasty again.

The doctor lay in bed recalling the dream he had that night, in which the cute little boy seemed to be in a bad mood.

For several days in a row, he dreamed of the same dynasty and the same protagonist.

If it were anyone else, constantly dreaming about another person's life would surely have led to a mental breakdown or a complete disillusionment with the world. But for some reason, the doctor adapted remarkably well, even looking forward to his dreams. He went to bed more than two hours earlier each night, maintaining a remarkably healthy sleep schedule. Moreover, he discovered, for some unknown reason, that he couldn't dream at all when sleeping in the hospital's on-call room; he could only dream when sleeping at home.

This is actually not bad; you can watch ancient dramas for free every night.

The doctor has been in a good mood lately. He saved a lot of money on rent, got a house out of nowhere, and received a bonus from the hospital for a series of successful surgeries. His basic salary also increased significantly.

He has the temperament of a petty bourgeois at heart; with money, he can buy more delicious food!
The doctor felt that his luck had been absolutely phenomenal lately! One day, while on his way home, he passed a lottery shop and, as if possessed, went inside and bought a lottery ticket.

However, he regretted it after buying it. Placing his hopes on such a slim probability was not something a wise man like him would do!
He casually tossed the lottery ticket into his wallet and forgot all about it, considering it a contribution to welfare.

※298 AD※

Shi Xi walked expressionlessly across the waterside pavilion in Jingu Garden.

Jingu Garden was a villa built by his father in recent years. Though called a villa, it was actually a large private garden built within a valley, nestled against the slopes of Mangshan Mountain. It incorporated a natural stream, with newly dug canals winding down the mountainside around various pavilions and towers. The pavilions and towers were filled with beautiful women of all kinds. At mealtimes, lacquer boxes were placed directly into the stream from the mountaintop, allowing the women to freely retrieve them. Those not chosen floated downstream and became the residences of the Shi family's servants, providing them with food.

If the Wang family only went to the central pavilion to play the "winding stream party" once a year when they held a banquet, then the Shi family played it every day.

Shi Chong frequently invited literati and scholars to his Golden Valley Garden to compose poems and hold banquets day and night, which immediately surpassed the banquets of the Wang family and became known as the renowned Golden Valley Gathering. It is said that a collection of poems titled "Golden Valley Poems" was even published because of this, with Shi Chong writing a preface for it. The Golden Valley Garden was also designated as one of the Ten Scenic Spots of Luoyang and was praised by word of mouth.

Shi Xi's life became even more extravagant, but also more unhappy. He was ten years old and had long been utterly disappointed by his father's expectations. His father had once proudly said that before, he needed to be taken out to see the world, but now he could stay in Jingu Garden and see everyone he wanted to see.

But he didn't want that kind of life at all.

What will he be able to do when he grows up? Inherit a huge fortune and live a life of extravagance like his father?
My father has recently been competing with Wang Kai to see who has more money.

The Wang family used sugar water to wash their pots, while the Shi family used beeswax as firewood to cook their meals.

The Wang family used purple silk cloth to make a 40-mile-long screen, while the Shi family used even more expensive brocade to make a 50-mile-long screen.

Wang Kai used red gypsum to coat the walls, while the Shi family used pepper paste to coat the walls.

……

Such extravagant spending, like a competition, is simply astonishing. They're truly rich and extravagant!
Shi Xi utterly loathed this display of wealth, yet his father seemed to relentlessly indulge in it, and the entire Shi family was united in their determination to surpass the Wang family. Today, Wang Kai himself came to Jingu Garden, reportedly leading a delegation directly from the palace.

"Young Master, that General Hou even went to the Emperor for help; he really can't accept defeat." The well-informed servant who was leading Shi Xi had been gossiping for a while. General Hou is Wang Kai's current official title.

Even the emperor was alarmed, and Shi Xi's still-childish face turned serious.

The servant thought his young master was worried about his master's chances of winning, so he quickly added, "Young master, don't worry. Even if the emperor gets involved, it won't make a difference!"

Hearing these confident words, Shi Xi's expression grew even more gloomy.

What kind of confidence is this? To not even put the ruler of a country in their eyes, how arrogant!

Or perhaps, it is lamentable that this country has declined to such an extent that the emperor not only fails to stop such wasteful and extravagant displays of wealth, but also openly supports them!

Within the Golden Valley Garden stands the Chongqi Tower, a hundred feet tall, built specifically for Green Pearl's residence. This tower is extravagantly luxurious; every imaginable jewel can be found throughout, demonstrating Green Pearl's favor with the emperor. Whenever guests arrive, a banquet is usually held in the pavilion beneath the Chongqi Tower, and this time was no exception.

When Shi Xi arrived, he saw Wang Kai showing off a two-foot-tall coral tree to the visiting guests.

Coral trees are such treasures that most people have never even seen one. They are said to only be found in the deep seas of the South China Sea. They are one of the seven treasures of Buddhism, representing auspiciousness and wealth, and are extremely rare and precious. Moreover, the coral tree that Wang Kai brought was lush and verdant, its color a deep, blood-red, and it stood two feet tall, making it an exceptionally rare find in the world.

No wonder Wang Kai looked smug and attracted all the literati and scholars in Luoyang to visit the Golden Valley Garden, determined to show off in front of everyone.

Upon seeing this scene, Shi Xi frowned and instinctively wanted to stand beside her father. However, Wang Kai had invited far too many guests today, and everyone wanted to join in the fun. Shi Xi was small and weak, and couldn't squeeze in at all. In fact, because she wasn't tall enough, she couldn't even see what was happening inside.

Just as he was frowning in worry, someone grabbed his wrist and pulled him towards the outer perimeter. Shi Xi struggled slightly, but after recognizing who it was, he obediently followed to the artificial hill surrounding the pavilion. From there, one could see the entire pavilion. However, Shi Xi still pursed his lips and protested, "I need to go to my father's, before things get too out of hand..."

"It's too late..." the musician sighed softly.

Shi Xi was startled and immediately looked towards the center of the pavilion, where he saw his father casually raise his hand and use the Ruyi scepter in his hand to smash the incomparably precious coral tree.

There was an uproar in the field.

Shi Xi swayed dizzily and almost fell off the artificial hill, but luckily the musician beside him was prepared and caught his small body.

Wang Kai flew into a rage and pointed at Shi Chong, launching into a veiled accusation that Shi Chong was sore loser that he was going to destroy everything.

Shi Chong, however, did not seem to care much and handed the Ruyi in his hand to the servant, saying indifferently, "It's not worth it. Here's yours back."

As soon as he finished speaking, several servants filed out of Chongqi Tower, carrying out several coral trees. Each one was taller and more lush than the ones Wang Kai had brought. There were as many as seven coral trees that were three or four feet tall. The coral trees were arranged in circles on the pavilion, radiating auspicious light under the sun, so bright that it was hard to open one's eyes.

In contrast, the shattered coral tree fragments lay scattered on the ground, left to be trampled upon by others.

Wang Kai was speechless and too ashamed to demand compensation, so he returned home dejectedly.

Shi Chong smiled smugly and invited the guests to stay for a banquet. However, because there were so many guests who came to see the spectacle, Shi Chong held the banquet elsewhere and arranged for his men to move all the coral trees there, creating an unprecedented coral feast. Presumably, after today, many poems praising coral will be written.

After Shi Chong led the way and left, the guests quickly followed, and the group soon disappeared from the pavilion, leaving only a pile of coral tree fragments scattered in the dust.

Shi Xi did not go with them. He barely managed to stand by holding onto the rocks, but his mind was filled with memories of the banquet his father had taken him to Wang Kai's house many years ago.

How is today's play different from that of the day before?

The difference is that what made Wang Dun famous was his disregard for human life.

And this time, his father Shi Chong will also become famous in Luoyang immediately, because he regards money as dirt.

Hehe, who knows, this might even leave a significant mark on history books.

“Fame is the name of reputation and fame, and profit is the benefit of wealth and status…” Shi Xi murmured to himself, “Could it be that fame and profit are so intoxicating to people?”

This is a question that musicians couldn't answer many years ago, and they still can't answer it now.

Shi Xi walked down the artificial hill dejectedly and left in a bad mood. He certainly didn't want to go to that so-called coral banquet, but he was also powerless to openly defy his father, who held a very powerful position in the family.

After Shi Xi left, a graceful woman slowly emerged from Chongqi Tower. She was stunningly beautiful, dressed in a deep turquoise robe with several embroidered ribbons adorning the hem, which swayed gently with her steps, creating a lithe and elegant silhouette. Every gesture she made was like a dance, imbued with a certain rhythm, utterly captivating. She wore only a hairpin inlaid with a green bead in her hair; otherwise, she adorned herself with no other jewelry.

A true beauty doesn't need any jewelry to enhance her radiance.

If she had appeared in the pavilion just now, none of the many coral trees could have obscured her radiance.

This woman was none other than Green Pearl, the most beautiful woman in Luoyang. A maroon silk shawl was casually draped over her shoulders. She walked quickly to the center of the pavilion, and her usually sweet and charming face was now filled with resentment and regret.

Green Pearl bent down and picked up a fragment of coral, gently wiping away the dust with her jade-like hands: "Even though it hasn't yet condensed its essence, it's still a treasure formed over thousands of years by gathering the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. How dare he..."

“Humans don’t cherish things that are too easily obtained,” the musician said calmly as he stepped down from the artificial hill. Perhaps this was something he had anticipated. He glanced at the furious Green Pearl, knowing that even a warning wouldn’t do much good, but he still said solemnly, “Wait patiently. Shi Chong still has ten years of life left. Don’t ruin yourself for the sake of mortals.”

"He is the one I chose, I understand." Green Pearl said calmly, but secretly clenched the coral fragment in her hand inside her sleeve.

The doctor woke up groggily, ruffled his bird's nest-like hair, and the dazzling coral trees from his dream seemed to still be spinning before his eyes.

However, how could that person casually smash a coral tree?

For some reason, the doctor felt an inexplicable anger rising within him, which was completely out of character.

No matter how beautiful the coral tree is, it's still just an inanimate object. To a wealthy tycoon like him, it's no different than casually breaking a cup.

But the doctor was still unhappy.

Those ancient people were quite adept at having fun. Whether it was Wang Dun beheading a beautiful woman to persuade someone to drink, or Shi Chong flaunting his wealth, it was all just for show.

Yes, he had already found out the dynasty in which the dream series was set. As for why he dreamt of another person's life every night, the doctor couldn't figure it out, but it didn't affect his real life, so he didn't pay much attention to it.

The stirring "Turkish March" started playing again. The doctor picked up his phone and saw that this was the third alarm. Strange, why didn't Tang Yuan come to his room to protest today?
After washing up, the doctor found little Tang Yuan sitting on the sofa in the living room, staring blankly at the newspaper. Curious, the doctor went around to him and found that besides the newspaper, there was also a lottery ticket he had bought a few days ago on the coffee table in front of Tang Yuan.

The doctor felt somewhat embarrassed; buying lottery tickets wasn't something a rational surgeon like him would do. He was about to make up an excuse, like someone else had bought them and given them to him, when Tang Yuan suddenly stood up, his eyes gleaming, grabbed the lottery ticket, and lunged at him.

"Uncle! I've won the lottery! The grand prize!" Tang Yuan was somewhat incoherent. He had lived a secluded life with his master for the past few years, but he knew how important money was in the world. Moreover, this windfall was so large that it almost made him feel overwhelmed.

The doctor's first reaction was to pinch the thigh.

Ouch...that hurts!
This isn't a dream!
※300 AD※

Green Pearl stood atop Chongqi Tower, gazing at the setting sun gradually sinking in the west, her stunningly beautiful face utterly still. She heard rhythmic footsteps on the stairs behind her, but without turning around, she asked softly, "Has he already left?"

The musician was the one who climbed to the rooftop. He had been with the Shi family for six years, but his face was still as young as it had been, unchanged.

The same goes for Green Pearl.

One of them often hid in the background, while the other, although renowned as a beautiful woman in Luoyang, always appeared radiant and charming, leading others to believe she was simply wearing makeup.

"left already."

The musician spoke calmly, but his eyes still held an unconcealable sadness.

"They never live past twelve years old. Humans are just too fragile," Green Pearl remarked with a sigh. Looking down from Chongqi Tower, one could already see white clouds rising from Xigu Garden, where Shi Xi lived, and faint cries could be heard. Green Pearl felt a slight pang of regret; after all, that Shi Xi was still quite adorable, all soft and gentle.

The musician remained silent for a long time, quietly watching the sunset paint the clouds on the horizon with a brilliant red glow, gradually pulling himself out of his sorrow. He had climbed Chongqi Tower for another matter.

"Green Pearl, Shi Chong still has eight years to live, why do you do this?" The musician was puzzled by Green Pearl's actions. Shi Chong was clearly not supposed to die, yet Green Pearl deliberately spread the news that Shi Chong's sudden wealth was because of her. Sure enough, someone came to demand Green Pearl, but Shi Chong refused to give in. Of course, to those unaware of the truth, it seemed that the other party was only after Green Pearl's beauty, but that was not the case at all.

Green Pearl's true form is actually a piece of jade algae.

The Book of Rites, in the section on Jade Ornaments, states: "The emperor's jade ornaments consist of twelve tassels, extending deeply from front to back." These jade ornaments are actually small jade pendants strung together to form tassels. Each tassel is adorned with twelve pieces of five-colored jade, arranged in the order of vermilion, white, pale green, orange-yellow, and black, forming a total of twelve tassels that hang down from the front and back of the emperor's crown.

The earliest crown in the world belonged to the Yellow Emperor. He possessed five fragments of five-colored stones left over from when Nuwa mended the sky, and he ground these fragments into jade beads, which he then wove into the crown. Only these five jade beads truly possessed spirit, but apart from the Yellow Emperor himself, no one knew which five of the two hundred and eighty-eight jade beads on the crown were truly special.

These five jade ornaments—vermilion, pure white, pale green, orange-yellow, and jet black—represent birth, death, wealth, provisions, and the army, respectively. These are the five most important elements for a ruler to govern a country, and they are the true imperial jade ornaments.

During its transmission, the Yellow Emperor's crown was ultimately destroyed in war, and all 288 jade ornaments were divided up. The five jade ornaments with the true essence of the emperor's crown also disappeared without a trace. No one knows why the crown was adorned with five-colored jade ornaments and tassels, but everyone followed ancient customs and imitated them. However, gradually, five-colored jade became increasingly difficult to find, and after the late Han Dynasty, the twelve tassels of the emperor's crown were adorned only with white jade beads.

Green Pearl is the Azure Jade Algae, one of the five Jade Algae of the Emperor. She has passed through many hands over the centuries and only took human form a few years ago. The musician only learned of her identity by chance, but he did not covet her.

Tamamo will choose her own master, but obtaining something doesn't always guarantee a good thing. Obtaining and protecting are two different concepts; possessing a treasure is a crime, and not everyone can have a good ending.

"Why is human greed endless?" Green Pearl lowered her head and stroked the railing in front of her. Every brick and tile of Chongqi Tower was made of the finest materials, and even the railings were carved from rare white jade, shimmering with a hazy light under the glow of the sunset.

The musician remained silent. He was human too, and naturally knew what greed was. The reason he was still alive was because of his own greed.

“I couldn’t communicate with my previous owners. They either set me up and wore me or put me in a box to collect dust. But without exception, as soon as they had unexpected wealth, they would have evil thoughts.”

"Either indiscriminately killing innocent people, or wantonly destroying things."

"Then, what is the meaning of my existence...?"

“Green Pearl…” the musician hesitated, unsure how to offer comfort. Unlike humans, which have parents and teachers to guide them, creatures of heaven and earth are formed from the essence of heaven and earth. At the moment their spirits are created, they naturally develop a set of rules for conduct. However, if they become fixated on these rules, they can easily become evil.

Ironically, this distinction between spiritual and evil objects is based solely on whether they are beneficial to humans.

The musician had no right to offer any advice, so he could only stand silently for a while, sigh deeply, and then slowly walk downstairs.

Green Pearl remained leaning against the railing, the setting sun already half-hidden on the horizon, unable to illuminate the face that had descended into madness.

The musician walked away from Chongqi Tower step by step, and just as the setting sun completely disappeared, he heard a heavy thud behind him.

Screams erupted as maids cried out, "Green Pearl has fallen!" but the musician did not stop. A cracked, pale green pearl rolled past his feet. The musician glanced at it indifferently, then resolutely walked out of the Golden Valley Garden.

"It actually transformed from a spirit that loved bestowing wealth upon others into an evil creature that enjoys watching others fall into madness for wealth... Tsk, so this Azure Jade Algae was here all along." A monotone voice rang out in the doctor's room. If Tang Yuan were here, he would surely exclaim that this was the senior brother who forced his master to throw him out.

Zhao Duan examined the Cang Yuzao placed on the lucky cat's paw for a while, wondering if the person who found the Cang Yuzao knew the details of the bead. Otherwise, why would they place it on the lucky cat's paw in such a fitting way?

However, he looked around the cramped room, barely big enough to turn around in, and gave a self-deprecating laugh.

He's being too suspicious; it's probably just a coincidence.

Zhao Gao unceremoniously accepted the Azure Jade Bead into his hand, showing absolutely no remorse for taking something that didn't belong to him. After all, it was an evil object; if he took the bead, the other party should thank him!
As he turned to leave, he didn't notice that in the bamboo basket in the corner of the room, a small white snake was tightly coiled up, staring at him and trembling.

Not long after Zhao Gao left, the doctor and little Tang Yuan returned.

They were both dejected, each more disappointed than the last.

"Holy crap, is this some kind of joke? Uncle, the lottery numbers you bought are from last time, how come they're exactly the same as this time's winning numbers?" Little Tang Yuan wiped his face, thinking the doctor must be playing a prank on him. "Why didn't you buy the same numbers this time?"

"How should I know..." The doctor was also frustrated; he really had just picked those numbers randomly. If he had bought them two days later, would he have become a billionaire?

However, unexpected wealth doesn't necessarily mean one is fortunate enough to enjoy it. The optimistic doctor quickly adjusted his mood, patting Tangyuan's head to comfort him, "If you didn't win the lottery, you didn't win, but I can still afford to treat you to a buffet! Let's go!"

"Yay! Then I'm going to eat at a five-star hotel's buffet!" Tang Yuan immediately perked up.

"...Let's go." The doctor silently touched his wallet, tears welling up in his eyes. Thankfully, he remembered that children under 1.3 meters tall get half-price at the buffet...

Wait a minute, has Tang Yuan grown taller again?
tears……

(End of this chapter)